Photo Diary: Hiking Lion's Head in Cape Town!

Table Mountain might be Cape Town's central landmark but Lion's Head can't be overlooked. Towering more than 2,000 ft above seal level, the peak provides a spectacular 360-degree view of the Mother City. The only way to the mountain's peak is on foot - with several trails that eventually merge into a main path that leads you to the top.

The hike is considered to be relatively easy, taking between 1 or 2 hours to complete. Don't underestimate it though; the hike has a good amount of exposure and a series of chains and ladders meant to assist you as you scramble up particularly steep sections. While the last major decent to the top has two routes: a shorter one with steel staple steps ascending up the face of a steep rock wall (see it here), and the longer/less risky detour. Regardless of which path you choose for the last decent, you will encounter ladders and do a decent amount of rock scaling (which can be dangerous when wet; so avoid doing the hike when its raining).

But in the end, it's all worth it. The hike itself its beautiful and the views from the top are breathtaking! You'll see a side of Cape Town that you just can't get anywhere, including amazing sights of Camp's Bay, Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. If you're in Cape Town, hiking Lion's Head is a must!